Attractions

On most battlegrounds you would not find a battleship, but San Jacinto State Historical Park is a definite exception to the rule. This majestic ship is berthed on the Houston Ship Channel at the edge of the park. She is the only survivor of the World War I dreadnoughts and also served as a flagship for the World War II D-Day invasion in 1944. President Eisenhower, a native Texan, presided over the dedication ceremony when the ship was retired, and the U.S. Navy has proudly preserved and restored her in the years since. Visitors are welcome to explore most parts of the ship. Tours are available, and many areas display items and memorabilia from ship life.

San Jacinto State Historical Park is the battleground where Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. After the Alamo, General Santa Anna's large force chased Sam Houston's small army across Texas and was soundly defeated at this site. A limestone and concrete monument rises 570 feet above the coastal flatlands to pay tribute to the historical event. At the base of the monument you will find the Museum of Texas History, and the Battleship Texas is berthed in the ship channel at the edge of the park.

Home to more than 300 species of birds, the Baytown Nature Center is a 450-acre (182-hectare) peninsula surrounded by three bays. Not just for bird-watching and appreciating nature, the center also has other outdoor recreational activities including fishing and a children’s playground built around a nature theme. Another attraction is the butterfly garden which features a colorful medley of flowers and native plants carefully placed to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Be prepared to walk or bike when you visit since vehicle movement is restricted here to protect the natural habitat of the wildlife. Open 365 days except during extreme weather conditions, the gates open to the public 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset. Admission costs USD3 for adults and children above 12 years.

This pleasant lake in East Houston is a citywide favorite for a little dose of the great outdoors. The park has several features, the most obvious of which is Sheldon Lake itself. The lake is open to the public and mostly used for fishing, wildlife spotting and boating, although there are some regulations concerning boat horsepower. The park also has the Environmental Learning Center, which teaches children about wildlife, birding and fishing and hosts all kinds of nature-oriented youth programs. Finally, the John Jacob Observation Tower is an 82-foot tall tower providing expansive views of the lake, park and for miles and miles in every direction.

Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center is a conservation center which aims to spread awareness about wetland diverse ecosystems. This is done through interactive tours, summer camps, field-trips for nearby schools and so on.

If you are looking for old Northern Italian architecture and a charmingly designed church, come visit this beautiful chapel known as Villa De Matel Convent. Built in the Lombard Romanesque style by Maurice J. Sullivan in 1928, it was the proudest of his creations. The sisters who decided to build the chapel in the 1920s asked him to create a building that would "be as good in 500 years as on the day of completion". He accomplished exactly that. Located on a sprawling 70 plus acres near South Wayside in southeast Houston, the grounds are home to the Sisters of Charity and Sisters of Incarnate Word private novitiate and mother house.

Over the course of more than two decades, Jefferson Davis McKissack, a Houston postal worker who loved oranges, built The Orange Show one found object at a time. He dreamt it would one day become a major attraction. He died just seven months after opening its doors. Recognizing The Orange Show's importance as one of the finest examples of folk art environments in the U.S., a group of supporters formed the Orange Show Foundation to preserve the monument. They're also responsible for the internationally renowned Art Car Festival. Besides visiting The Orange Show, you can also take one of the Foundations' Eyeopener Tours.

This is a city location for Muslim worship and other services. Al Shareef Masjid organizes lectures and seminars and also celebrations of the Muslim festivals. Prayers, meetings and discussions are held to keep the community informed.